Pastry chef Tariq Hanna has called New Orleans home for 9 years. The executive pastry chef and co-owner of the Sucré mini empire, which includes three "sweet boutiques" and the Salon by Sucré tea room, restaurant, and lounge, lives with his wife, Jennifer, and three French bulldogs in a raised Creole cottage in East Riverside. It was the old commercial 8-burner stove that immediately drew Hanna to the house, but its history was also a big selling point for him and Jennifer—it was the first residence built in the neighborhood, erected in the 1830s for the caretaker of the Delachaise sugarcane plantation. Fitting, that a house built on sugar should now be occupied by an award-winning pastry chef and master confectioner. After the caretaker, the house stayed in one family for the next hundred years. "The house is officially haunted," says Tariq.
When they moved down from Farmington Hills, a suburb of Detroit, the Hannas brought with them their favorite mid-century modern pieces and blended them into an eye-catching array of old-meets-new décor. The house is curated with an eclectic selection of vintage ephemera, trendy accent pieces, and an endless array of cool and funky works of art. “It has literally been a seven-year project,” said Tariq, laughing. “And of course, as soon as it’s done, we’re going to change the whole thing again.” From Eames chairs and vintage Catherine Holm cookware to black shelves that hold white objets d’art, here’s your chance to sneak a peek into the Hannas’ carnivalesque Creole cottage.
Jen Laskey is a New York City-based writer and certified sommelier. Her writing has appeared in SAVEUR, In Search of Taste, Food Republic, Playboy, Fodor's Travel guidebooks, and Everyday Health. She is a wine and cocktail columnist for SNOW magazine and the author of Jen's Candy Jar: Artisanal Candy Recipes for Holidays and Special Occasions.
Tariq Hanna, executive pastry chef and co-owner of the Sucré empire
The Hannas transformed their backyard into a garden oasis, complete with a custom-designed swimming pool with cascading waterfalls. “This is why when I’m not at work I never leave the house,” said Tariq, gesturing toward the pool. Philippe Starcke Soft Egg Chairs in white, set of 4, $1,148 at YLiving.com
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Tariq and Jennifer kept the classic façade on the raised exterior, but renovated and redesigned the entire interior of the house. To say that they took this historic home and made it their own is an understatement.
One of the most striking decorative elements when you enter the Creole cottage through the raised living room is this set of black and indigo shelves that contain contrasting white objets d’art by different artists, including some pieces by Jonathan Adler. Decorative objects, from $98 at JonathanAdler.com
Here, Chiboust and Batiste help show off the garden-level sitting room, which is dominated by mid-century modern furniture, including several Eames chairs. Many of the accent pieces are from West Elm. The rug is by Angela Adams. Mongolian lamb pillow covers, from $79, and Honeycomb Linework vases, from $19 at WestElm.com
The Hannas are not afraid to mix high and low. Alongside their Catherine Holm cookware and decorative glasses from A.K.A. Stella Gray are ceramics from IKEA and West Elm. The hanging teardrop ASKER pots from IKEA have been discontinued from some stores, but similar pots can be found from $9.99 on Amazon.com or $19 at WestElm.com.
Tariq recently refurbished the old 8-burner U.S. Range that sold him on the house, and he renovated the kitchen around it. Though busy running Sucré, he still makes time to cook at home. “I’m cooking about five days a week and every Sunday—and I cook for the dogs,” he explained. 8-burner U.S. Range by Garland, from $4,582, at WebRestaurantStore.com
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Tariq describes his galley kitchen as “clean, modern, sleek, and industrial yet functional.” He described the counter tops as Caesar stone with a “disco sparkle” because it looks like bits of mirror have been smashed into it. They collected the vintage Catherine Holm cookware in Michigan. Catherine Holm cookware, from $90 at eBay.com
Tariq almost never does pastry or confection work at home, but he regularly uses this KitchenAid mixer for cooking. He emphasizes that it goes everywhere with him. KitchenAid ProLine 7-quart mixer, $699.99 at KitchenAid.com
The French bulldogs, Bonbon, Batiste, and Chiboust (who was named after a type of white pastry mousse), get their home-cooked meals in these dapper doggy bowls from Petcetera on Magazine Street. Similar ceramic pet bowls, from $9 at Wag.com
Decorating the back walls of the raised living room are a hand-carved cow skull, purchased at A.K.A. Stella Gray, and the original deed to the house, which is in the frame on the right. The colorful Miss Rio Ottoman in the middle of the room is made out of recycled flip flop scraps. Similar styles of hand carved skulls, from $229 at SkullBliss.com
Tariq may have a delicate touch with his innovative pastries and confections, but things get heavier handed when he’s rocking out on his vintage 1979 clear Ludwig Vistalite Drums—the same style John Bonham of Led Zeppelin used to play. Ludwig Vistalite Drums, from $1700.00 on VintageLudwigDrums.com
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Tariq is crazy about Star Wars and got this Storm Trooper costume to wear for Mardi Gras and Halloween. Jennifer explained that sometimes he changes it up, adds a grass skirt, and transforms it into a “HoolaTrooper.” When Tariq is not out channeling the Galactic Empire, the costume is placed on a mannequin in the music studio. Adult Storm Trooper Costume, from $34.99 at OfficialStarWarsCostumes.com
